The Pac-12, currently consisting of two teams, is poised to grow — and provide a more stable future for Washington State and Oregon State.
At least four schools from the Mountain West are expected to announce, as early as Thursday, their plans to join the Pac-12 for the 2026-27 competition year, according to a Mountain West source.
Colorado State, Boise State and San Diego State are three of the schools, with Fresno State believed to be the fourth.
Yahoo was the first to report the news.
The thunderous development comes after the Mountain West and Pac-12 failed to agree to extend their football scheduling partnership for the 2025 season.
The move will be costly for the Pac-12 and the schools involved.
According to the terms of the scheduling agreement, there is a so-called poaching penalty of approximately $10 million for every school that leaves the MW for the Pac-12.
Washington State and Oregon State have assets worth well over $200 million, which includes $65 million in distributions withheld from the 10 departed schools.
That money had been earmarked to rebuild the conference.
In addition, schools that leave the MW are likely to owe a departure penalty of approximately $20 million.
But there is more to come, for the Pac-12 must have at least eight members by the summer of 2026 to comply with NCAA rules.
With the Cougars and Beavers, plus the four MW schools, at least two more additions would be needed.
This article will be updated.
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